Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference

SCHEDULE: 

8:30 a.m. | What’s on the Horizon at the Department of Labor?
Be part of this informative session where the Chief Accountant of the Employee
Benefits Security Administration shares the Department of Labor’s (DOL) latest news and developments and examines the results of the DOL’s recent audit quality study – from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. Find out how your firm’s audit work stacks up and see what the best in class look like. Take a look at the DOL’s current regulatory compliance initiatives.
Ian Dingwall, CPA/Employee Benefits Security Administration/U.S. Department of Labor/Washington, DC

9:45 a.m. | Break

10 a.m. | Top Audit Deficiencies, Pitfalls and Problem Areas
Discover the challenges faced by Employee Benefit Plan auditors, which ones top the list, and learn how to steer clear of potential pitfalls. Take a look at the latest peer review and regulatory inspection results, explore common audit deficiencies, and review problem areas such as investments, loans and participant account activity. Examine recent regulatory changes and their impact on the audit process. Garner practical tips to increase audit quality, improve engagement efficiency, and ensure compliance with current audit standards and regulations.
Rance Buss, CPA/Weaver, LLP/Houston

11:15 a.m. | Employee Benefit Plan Auditing and Accounting Update
Gain an update regarding new accounting and auditing standards impacting employee benefit plan audits. Discuss new accounting standards impacting benefit plan investments including ASU 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosures for investments in certain entities that calculate Net Asset Value per Share and ASU 2015-12, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Defined Contribution Pension Plans and Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.
Eric Ernest, CPA/McConnell & Jones, LLP/Houston

12:05 p.m. | Lunch

12:55 p.m. | AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC) Tools & Resources
Review the AICPA EBPAQC, including membership requirements, composition of members and tools and resources available to assist members in performing quality employee benefit plan audits. Learn more about the EBPAQC, the benefits of membership and the tools and resources available to members and other stakeholders.
Anita Baker, CPA, CEBS/CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP/Phoenix, AZ

2:10 p.m. | Break

2:25 p.m. | Investments for Auditors: A Practical Walk-Through
Learn to identify investment types to determine what financial statement presentation and disclosures are required under the new reporting standards. Examine mutual funds, pooled separate accounts, common collective trust funds, and investment contracts. Become familiar with which investments are in a plan and determine what financial statement presentation and disclosures are required. Review investment statements, Form 5500, and other plan documents and get a walk-through of illustrated financial statements and investment related disclosures.
Rob A. Massa, ChFC, CEBS, AIF, CBC/Ascende/Houston
Eric Ernest, CPA/McConnell & Jones, LLP/Houston

3:15 p.m. | Internal Controls and Fraud in Employee Benefit Plans
Understand the importance of internal controls, policies and procedures to mitigate risk and non-compliance.
Karlye Broten, CPA, RPA/CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP/Phoenix, AZ

4:10 p.m. | Q&A Session
Get 20 minutes of important time to get answers to your questions from the experts. Take home valuable pointers from the conference.
Anita Baker, CPA, CEBS/CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP/Phoenix, AZ
Rance Buss, CPA/Weaver, LLP/Houston
Karlye Broten, CPA, RPA/CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP/Phoenix, AZ
Ian Dingwall, CPA/Employee Benefits Security Administration/U.S. Department of
Labor/Washington, DC
Eric Ernest, CPA/McConnell & Jones, LLP/Houston
Rob A. Massa, ChFC, CEBS, AIF, CBC/Ascende/Houston

4:30 p.m. | Adjourn

Basic Course Information

*Employee Benefits

*Auditing